Monthly Archives: September 2014

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…and off they went for a leisurely motor down the Dismal Swamp Canal. Bruce and Kathy had traveled from Pennsylvania to experience this magnificent, original stretch of the Intracoastal Waterway. Meanwhile, I’d been left at the Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center where I settled into the lounge of the Welcome Center with iPad in hand and utilized the free WiFi for some much needed emailing, phone calling, and writing. The women working in the Welcome Center were most friendly and we chatted intermittently during our work. When finished, I headed back outside to the parking lot and hopped aboard the car hoping that I still remembered how to drive.

I planned to meet Rode Trip at the Deep Creek Lock; 17 statute miles by canal from the Welcome Center. Rode Trip would travel for approximately four hours to reach the lock, but my trip by car would take only 20-minutes. No wonder our land friends always wonder what’s taking us so long! They should try driving their cars around at 4.5 mph…swing by the grocery store on the way home, no problem as long as you don’t mind starting to cook supper at midnight.

There is a bridge just prior to the lock, and as I approached I spotted the lock-tender parking his car at the bridge to open the bridge for a southbound vessel. I parked the car along the roadside to watch. Afterward, I approached the lock-tender to inform him that Rode Trip was traveling northbound and due to arrive within the next hour. “Would you like to wait at the lock?” he asked. “Yea,” I replied, “that would be great.” “Follow me.”

Robert is the lock-tender at Deep Creek Lock. He is somewhat of a rock star among the cruising crowd, especially the snowbirds (seasonal cruisers who head south in the winter and north in the summer). Robert not only does his job spectacularly, but he also knows a wealth of information about the Dismal Swamp, Dismal Swamp Canal, and surrounding areas of Virginia. He welcomes passers-through and provides excellent instruction for safe passage through the lock as well as history and stories and if you are very lucky he’ll demonstrate his skills blowing a conch horn. I followed Robert via car to the Deep Creek Lock and joined him inside the air-conditioned lock cabin. For nearly two hours we talked covering a variety of topics. We were interrupted only once when the VHF squawked and to my surprise (Brian’s voice sounds very different to me over the radio waves) “northbound sailing vessel Rode Trip” was calling to notify Robert that they were at the bridge awaiting the 1300 opening. Rode Trip made fabulous time! They’d arrived one-hour earlier than anticipated and tied at the dock near the bridge until the opening.

At 1320, Robert and I drove down to the bridge. “Come on in,” Robert invited me into the bridge’s control room. Robert hailed the two waiting northbound vessels (a motor vessel had joined Rode Trip at the dock) to inform the vessels the bridge was preparing to open. Then while Rode Trip cast off the dock, instead of my usual task of tending dock lines and fenders…

…I was behind the scenes watching Robert in action.

The bridge quickly rose and Rode Trip and the motor vessel proceeded through. (If you are looking closely at the photos, they are all wibbly-wobbly; the iPad could not focus through the old glass window panes. Next time, I’ll ask Robert how old the control house is, he’ll know!) Brian, Bruce, and Kathy gave a wave. Then, Brian did a double-take and recognized his wife through the window. He pointed and I watched them all wave again enthusiastically once they realized I was behind the scenes.

“That was LOUD!” I commented to Robert while the boats passed through. “That’s not loud,” he replied, “put these on,” he handed me ear protection. Apparently the bridge is enormously loud when going down. I thanked Robert as we returned to our cars to head back to the lock.

Robert was at the ready to assist the incoming vessels.

Rode Trip entered the lock, lines at the ready.

Robert recognized Brian; although he sees many captains, he reaffirmed that most are about twice our age. While the lock was preparing to lower, Brian presented Robert with his choice of conch horn. Robert played us a tune!

Robert regaled us with historical facts while the lock lowered Rode Trip eight-feet down.

Afterward, we waved goodbye to Brian and Bruce. They would continue to Norfolk. Kathy had come ashore; she was anxious to begin the next expedition of the day…SHOPPING!

While docked at the Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center we transformed Rode Trip into a pirate ship for some very special visitors. Brian and I have known friends, Kevin and Colleen, for five years. Interestingly, our relationship began as we all prepared to take wedding vows; we met at Engaged Encounter, a weekend preparatory retreat for engaged Catholic couples. Since Brian and I have been cruising, Kevin and Colleen have had a couple of adventures of their own…Keagan and Cassidy! We were thrilled to meet the kids and catch up with Kevin and Colleen in person.

Keagan was very excited to see the “cool pirate ship.” He put on his “pirate vest” to come aboard. We raised the “pirate flag” and Keagan announced, “Time to go!” We did not explain to Keagan why the pirate flag states, Time flies when you’re having rum, that will be a lesson much later during his pirate training. Keagan came well prepared with his spyglass and pirate sword. Inside the cabin, Keagan checked out the view from the portholes, and even tried the “pirate potty.” He seems to be adapting well to life at sea! Meanwhile, Cassidy was all smiles as she was passed from lap to lap.

We took a walk across the Dismal Swamp Canal to the Dismal Swamp State Park. At the Visitor Center, we learned all about black bears, snakes, beavers, turkeys, and squirrels. Keagan’s favorite exhibit was the taxidermy “animal statues.” We strolled along the boardwalk outside of the Visitor Center chatting away with Kevin and Colleen.

Back at the “pirate ship” we had a pizza party. Captain Brian demoted himself to “kitchen wench” and cooked a tasty meal while out on deck Keagan had the very important job of keeping the bugs away with these miraculous little fans that Colleen brought along. The grown up pirates enjoyed cold beers and lots of laughter.